"LAMBING DOWN."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3000, 24 September 1908, Page 5

"LAMBING DOWN."

ACTION AGAINST A NEWSPAPER. VERDICT FOR DEFENDANT. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. GISBORNE. September 23. A considerable amount of interest was taken locally in the libel case instituted by Joseph Burke, hotelkeeper, against the "Gisborne Times" newspaper fcr publishing a paragraph alleging that a "lambingdown" case had occurred at plaintiff's hotel. The evidence having been concluded yesterday, counsel today addressed the jury. The jury were absent about an hour, and then returned with the following verdict: —"We find that Pearson arrived at Burke's Hotel, the Record Reign, on August 3rd, he (Pearson) had in his possession then a cheque for £H7 18s anJ about £5 6s in notes and silver, and that Burke got possession of the said cheque (£37 18s) and notes (£5), and he (Burke) has tailed tu satisfactorily account for the disposal of the above monies, and that he (Burke) permitted Pearson to have as much intoxicating liquor as he asked for from time to timp, to Pearson's detriment, physically and morally. We find that the defendant company has fully justified their publication of the facts concerning one of the most deplorable "lambing-down" cases that ever occurred in our midst. We therefore give our verdict in favour of the defendant company."

Upon receipt of the verdict His Honor said: "I quite agree with your verdict. I think in this case the defendant has done a public service, and it is to be hoped it will bear fruit. Of course in connection with this 'lambing-down' case it is very lamentable that this should reflect on other hotel keepers, who do conduct their business in a proper and respectable manner." Costs were allowed on the middle scale. It is understood they will amount to about £7O.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph copyright.